Field terminable fiber optic connector assembly

A method of terminating a factory optical fiber to a field optical fiber comprising:

• terminating the factory optical fiber to the fiber optic connector with an end of the factory optical fiber protruding from the fiber optic connector;
• providing a polymeric carrier having a connector end engaged with the fiber optic connector and an oppositely disposed cable end, the polymeric carrier including a heat activated meltable portion adjacent the cable end;
• providing an alignment structure on the polymeric carrier, the alignment structure including a first end and a second end and a throughhole extending from the first end to the second end;
• inserting the factory optical fiber protruding from the fiber optic connector into the throughhole of the alignment structure from the first end of the alignment structure;
• inserting the field optical fiber into the throughhole of the alignment structure from the second end of the alignment structure;
• aligning an end of the field optical fiber with the end of the factory optical fiber within the throughhole of the alignment structure;
• providing heat to the heat activated meltable portion of the polymeric carrier to melt and bring the carrier to a flowable condition for securing the factory optical fiber to the field optical fiber;
• and
• providing a heat activated adhesive element adjacent the meltable portion of the polymeric carrier, the heat activated adhesive element configured to melt and assume a flowable condition when exposed to a predetermined amount of heat and resolidify when the heat is removed for bonding the factory optical fiber to the field optical fiber.

A fiber optic connector assembly comprising:

• a fiber optic connector having a first mating end and a second end;
• a first optical fiber terminated to the fiber optic connector, the first optical fiber defining a first end adjacent the mating end for optical connection to a second fiber optic connector, the first optical fiber defining a second end protruding out of the second end of the fiber optic connector;
• a polymeric carrier having a connector end engaged with the fiber optic connector and an oppositely disposed cable end, the polymeric carrier including a heat activated meltable portion adjacent the cable end;
• and
• an alignment structure disposed on the carrier, the alignment structure including a first end and a second end and a throughhole extending from the first end to the second end, the first end of the alignment structure configured to receive the second end of the first optical fiber and the second end of the alignment structure configured to receive an end of a second optical fiber entering the cable end of the carrier;
• wherein the heat activated portion of the polymeric carrier is configured to melt and assume a flowable condition when exposed to a predetermined amount of heat and resolidify when the heat is removed to bond the second optical fiber to the carrier;
• wherein a heat activated adhesive element is positioned adjacent the meltable portion of the polymeric carrier, the heat activated adhesive element also configured to melt and assume a flowable condition when exposed to a predetermined amount of heat and resolidify when the heat is removed for bonding the second optical fiber to the carrier.